by Alert Bay’s Residential School
Some time before our own island hopping journey last month, some dear friends had done a similar trip a bit earlier going farther north but also visiting Sointula and Alert Bay. They warned us about a very disturbing sight at Alert Bay. Indeed, as we approached Cormorant Island on the ferry and saw the village, we were stunned by the vision of a huge prison-like brick building standing out above the smaller structures.
This is St. Michael’s Indian Residential School. It operated from 1929 to 1974. When the school was closed, the First Nations residents of the island took over the ownership and decided to leave it standing, its deteriorating condition being a horrific testament to a tragic past of cultural genocide.
The Indian residential school system was implemented in 1879 by the Canadian government to eliminate the “Indian problem”—that is, to absorb the Aboriginal population into the dominant Canadian identity, and to impose Christianity, English or French as the primary languages, and the abandonment of cultural and family traditions. St. Michael’s Indian Residential School in Alert Bay was one of 140 Indian residential schools that operated in Canada. (quote from the Museum of Anthropology page regarding an exhibition I just learned about and must go see.)
It is located right next to the U’mista Cultural Centre which I wrote about yesterday. One side about a loss of culture, pride, language and family connection, the other about reviving pride in one’s culture, language and history.
Viewing this was all very very disturbing for us all, and quite the eye opener for our European visitors. It still remains with me, making this a difficult post to write. Man’s inhumanity to man.
This scene is in the grassy treed area in front of the school. In its innocence, it still made me sad when thinking of the long ago suffering children, yet suggesting hope and happiness for today’s.
We were to learn that while we were here, back in Vancouver was a huge gathering of First Nations from across Canada for the Truth and Reconciliation Week. There were many many articles in the media about this event, but I’ll just post a few below should you be interested. Do at least visit the first one, a heartwarming story by a local well-known blogger who was there:
Walking Reconciliation by Chris Corrigan
CBC: Seeking Truth and Reconciliation in Vancouver
To Break Residential Schools’ Dark Legacy, Understand Why
ADDED later: more photos of St. Michael’s
November 5, 2013 in Canada and BC, Culture, History, Travel by Marja-Leena
This is still an astounding story even as I’ve heard far too many similar ones over the years. I’m not sure the Americans even bothered trying to assimilate the aboriginal children; they simply established Indian schools on the reservations. There’s an extraordinary Australian film called Rabbit-Proof Fence about three little girls who walked a thousand miles home after having been sent to a similar school.
The article By Chris Corrigan was well worth reading. I just wish I’d been able to find the pictures of the inside of that school online. They’d reach far more people if they were posted.
Susan, yes, I’d heard so many stories too but being there and seeing this was like a punch in the gut. I cannot stop thinking of those children taken away from their families. About the churches that carried out abuses implicit with the government. It is no wonder that so many have problems as adults, so this Truth and Reconciliation process will hopefully provide forgiveness and healing.
I was torn in wanting to see the inside of the school, if it had been possible. But I will go and see the exhibition and perhaps will be able to capture some photos, if allowed.
It never ceases to amaze me what fear some folks have of anyone different from them. Even in today’s multicultural world it persists, but now it’s called ethnic cleansing, or terrorism. We humans have a lot to answer for.
Olga, yes and yes, we just have not learned after so many generations.
“Love one another.” That line has run through my head constantly for the past few days. I’ve seen so many saddening threads on social media and elsewhere.
Marly, that line is the key to compassion, isn’t it? I’m sorry you’ve been feeling that pain lately.
The era of institutionalization is over, thank god. It was so shameful.
Hattie, yes it was. The issue of their education is still quite a concern though.
With the three-day weekend here in the States, I am finally able to brew a pot of tea and sit reading your blog with no time pressures. It’s a habit of mine to save yours for last because the posts are so rich with links and photos and much to ponder and learn. But these past few months have been extremely hectic, and so I’ve really fallen behind. But it was great to visit the islands and now I am here at this heartrending stop. One of my professors in graduate school worked with a man who’d been a teacher in one of these schools. The professor had a tape recording of a student who talked about an incident that happened when he was a boy and was dragged down into the basement to be punished because he refused to remove his “totem animal” necklace and replace it with a crucifix on a chain. Listening to that man’s voice tell of his horrible experience had me sobbing there in the first row of the classroom. Adults do terrible things to children.
Rouchswalwe, I’m so very happy to have you visit! I’m sorry work has been so hectic for you. It’s a long weekend here too, though ours in Canada is called Remembrance Day, but still the same as your Veterans Day.
Your story about the man who’d taught in one of these schools is a heartrending one. Thanks for sharing such a painful experience.